Mr Tillerson said he had never met Donald Trump before his election in November.

When he was invited for a conversation with the then president-elect, he thought they would talk “about the world” given his experiences at the oil company, he added.

“When he asked me at the end of that conversation to be secretary of state, I was stunned.”

Mr Tillerson then gave the news to his wife, Renda St Clair, who said: “I told you God’s not through with you.”

He added: “My wife convinced me. She was right. I’m supposed to do this.”

Image copyrightReuters

Image caption
Mr Tillerson, with his wife Renda St Clair, at his swearing-in ceremony at the White House

It was Mr Tillerson’s first interview since he took office and correspondents say he has so far kept a low profile at the state department.

He came under criticism after the state department press corps was not taken along with him on his trip to Asia.

The IJR’s Erin McPike was the only reporter allowed to travel with him. The state department said this was because of the size of the plane.

But in the interview Mr Tillerson said: “I’m not a big media press access person. I personally don’t need it.

“I understand it’s important to get the message of what we’re doing out, but I also think there’s only a purpose in getting the message out when there’s something to be done.”

Mr Tillerson has also been criticised for his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. But when the subject came up in the interview, the IJR said: “He was so cagey when Russia came up, for example, that his answer wasn’t even worthy of inclusion.”

Rex Tillerson: My wife convinced me to be US secretary of state

Rex Tillerson: My wife convinced me to be US secretary of state added by on March 22, 2017View all posts by →